TERUO Himoto reminds me of my grandfather, especially from the ears up. He has the same smiling eyes and very high forehead, which is to say he has more use for a hat than a comb. He runs Uwajima Fisheries, in Kailua-Kona, hatching fish from eggs, feeding and caring for them in ponds until they are ready to harvest. Hatching some
finny businessIt's called aquaculture.
There are two Japanese flounders, Himoto says. Stretched out flat, belly down, one has eyes on the left, the other on the right. Although the two species are otherwise almost identical, left-eyed fish -- used for sashimi -- sell for three or four times the price of right-eyed, which end up in the fryer.
He also grows moi. You don't often see moi for sale because fishermen save the tasty fish for themselves. Another reason is there is a kapu during the summer months to allow the ocean stocks to replenish.
Himoto's moi aren't from the ocean, though, and there's no danger he'll run out. So, the state licenses him to sell pond-grown moi in the summer. He says he doesn't mind paying the $55 fee himself, but the state charges each of his customers $55 a year, too! That just about eliminates his summertime moi market.
About 80 years ago H.L. Mencken wrote: ''All government in its essence is a conspiracy against the superior man. Its one permanent object is to oppress him and cripple him.''
Some things never seem to change.
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 525-8612, fax to 523-8509, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.